Dangle Him Purposely

by T.B. O'Neill

On the cusp of Tim's teenage years, change is in the air and a feverish hope is sweeping the land. The nation’s young president dreams of moon landings, rock and roll fills the airways, and boys in tennis shoes shoot hoops on warm summer nights. After being on the road for years, his family finds a home in small town America. And then a mentor arrives to lead Tim to the light. Still, danger lurks in shadows, that undercurrent of violence and failure in his country, the strife of the dispossessed and the war. There have always been excesses of ignorance and rage in his life, and long stretches of missed meals for his family, the losers of society. He must break his father's habits. And when the war finally comes for him, it seems that only those of his social class are called to fight the nation’s battle and make the ultimate sacrifice.
With laughter and pain, Dangle Him Purposely captures the crushing weight of the era, the class and racial divides, the beseeching prayer for peace, and the troubling fear that our culture was becoming lost and corrupt. But at its core, this is a story of one boy’s adventures during the calm and in the storm as he grows into manhood as boys do in every era, whether in peace or in war.


“It is a captivating story, delivered with good humor, and in gorgeous writing. . . . However, what is most captivating about Dangle Him Purposely is the social and political statement of the book, a subtle denunciation of war and social inequality." Readers Favorites, Divine Zape

". . . a highly engrossing series of memoir moments that are sure to keep readers turning the pages from cover to cover. . . . . Author T. B. O'Neill has crafted a very engrossing and immersive work of autobiographical writing with plenty of truth, honor, and inspiration to offer its readers." K.C.Finn, Readers Favorites.

"The child is not a child anymore, as this book says in the beginning - but neither is he yet a man. The pathos of his growth process is captured in accounts that excel in recreating haunting moments of uncertainty in a young man's life. Readers seeking a memoir . . . will find this exploration engrossing, revealing, and worthy of the read." Diane Donovan, Senior editor, Mid-West Book Review.
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"Profound, descriptive, and intricate. The book is fully packed with cultural richness, historical facts, a day-to-day depiction of American soldiers . . . and more." Foluso Falaye

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2023

Reviews

[Crystal]

This book is a coming of age story about Tim. From a young age, he learned the importance of hard work. He had to fend for himself in various situations. Because of this, it seemed like he matured quickly. He grew up in a family that did not have a lot of money and this caused him to feel a sense of self-consciousness. Tim was faced with difficult situations from a young age. He attempted to run away in search of a better life. Tim had to work hard in order to be able to fit in with his peers.

As Tim matures and grows older, he picks up new habits. He begins attending mass and is baptized. He also began to work out and ended up joining a gym. This book is full of many life lessons. We can learn a lot by reading how Tim handled himself in situations throughout his life.

In my opinion, this is a good story highlighting Tim's transition from childhood to adulthood. He overcomes many obstacles and goes on to join the military. Tim is a hard worker and learns to push himself to be successful. At first, he did not know if he could be successful in the military, but by working hard, he did well.

I would recommend this book. It shows that everyone is capable of paving their own path in life. Depending on your actions in life, you can completely change what your future might look like. I think that this book was very well written and explored some challenging situations in Tim's life.